Search

Objective Although negative back beliefs are associated with high-intensity low back pain (LBP)/disability, whether they influence incident high-intensity LBP/high disability over the long-term is unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether negative back beliefs were associated with developing high-intensity LBP and/or high disability over 10 years in men. Methods Men with no or low-intensity LBP and/or disability attending the Geelong Osteoporosis Study between 2006 and 2010 were included. Data on age, body mass index, mobility, education, back beliefs (Back Beliefs Questionnaire), LBP and disability (Graded Chronic Pain Scale) were collected between 2006 and 2010. Beliefs, LBP and disability were re-assessed in 2016–2021. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between negative back beliefs and incident high-intensity pain and/or high disability, adjusting for age, body mass index, mobility and education. Results At baseline, 705 participants (mean age 53.8 years) had no or low LBP and no or low disability; 441 (62.6%) participants completed a 10-year follow-up. Of these, 37 (8.4%) developed high-intensity pain and/or high disability. In multivariate analyses, participants with more negative back beliefs at baseline were more likely to develop high-intensity pain and/or high disability (odds ratio 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.11). Developing more negative back beliefs was also associated with incident high-intensity pain and/or high disability (odds ratio 1.20; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.30). Conclusion In a male community-based population, negative beliefs regarding the consequences of LBP were associated with an increased likelihood of developing high-intensity pain and/or high disability. Addressing negative back beliefs in the community may reduce the incidence of high-intensity pain and/or high disability over 10 years in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Back pain (BP) is a major cause of absenteeism in National Health Service (NHS) staff in the UK. However, the back beliefs of NHS staff with BP are unknown. To explore the BP beliefs of UK NHS staff presenting with BP, and how these beliefs are constructed. Purposive sampling of NHS staff with BP who had self-referred to University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trusts occupational health physiotherapy service. 30 participants completed the Back-Pain Attitudes Questionnaire. Ten participants with a range of BP beliefs also completed semi-structured interviews. Mean responses, and frequency of different responses were reported, for the questionnaire data. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Total Back-PAQ scores (mean −9.6, SD 9.16) indicated unhelpful BP beliefs overall, though some BP beliefs such as the potential benefit of exercise were more positive. Key themes identified from the interviews were; (i) the uniquely vulnerable nature of BP, (ii) the need to protect the back through avoidance behaviours, and (iii) the importance of being active for BP. NHS staff presenting with BP generally held negative BP beliefs, based on both questionnaire responses and the qualitative interviews. Awareness of the potential benefits of activity contrasted with the notion that ongoing protection of the back was required, and was evident in questionnaire data and interviews. Back pain beliefs were influenced by health care professional advice (both formal and informal settings), moving and handling training, family opinion and childhood experiences, offering insights into the settings where BP beliefs could be targeted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work absence due to back pain is best predicted by beliefs and attitudes. Lots of money is spent on training in the NHS trying to prevent back pain; this study explores the effect of that training on back pain beliefs. 151 NHS employees were surveyed using the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire before and after manual handling training. NHS employees had mixed beliefs. Before training, staff had positive beliefs about activity participation (8.25, SD 1.78), neutral beliefs about psychological influences (6.11, SD 2.51) and prognosis (6.34, SD 2.18), negative beliefs about relationship with injury (5.26, SD 2.09) and strongly negative beliefs about vulnerability of the back (2.81, SD 1.45). Training had a small negative effect (–1.57, SD 4.06 p < 0.001) primarily through exacerbating beliefs regarding the vulnerability of the back (–0.45, SD 1.24, p < 0.001) and the relationship between pain and injury (–0.80, SD 1.83 p < 0.001). NHS employees hold many outdated views on back pain. The immediate effects of manual handling training based on the traditional paradigm of 'protect your back' appeared to make respondents slightly more cautious about using the spine; viewing it as easy to injure, that pain and damage may be linked, and slightly less optimistic about recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]